A Brief History of Testicle Art
Kacey Musgraves's viral disco balls moment points to a lineage of artists whose use of the genital form is camp-as-critique.
The history of art inspired by testicle-shaped disco balls spans nearly 50 years. The latest iteration gained significant attention when country music star Kacey Musgraves performed alongside a massive suspended testicle-shaped disco ball during her 36-date Middle of Nowhere Tour. The sculpture, which went viral on social media, bore a striking resemblance to a sculpture created by Brooklyn artist Alexandra Rubinstein in 2020.
Rubinstein, whose work often features oversized phalluses as symbols of traditional masculinity, was initially unaware of Musgraves' use of a similar sculpture during her tour. The similarities between Rubinstein's "Disco Balls" and Musgraves' performance have sparked discussions about the intersection of art, pop culture, and the enduring fascination with genital-themed imagery.
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